The Clancy Water and Sewer District Board and Clancy Elementary School appear to be headed toward a pivotal conversation at the school board’s Feb. 14 meeting.
The Water and Sewer Board feels that the school’s participation in a proposed community water system is essential to the project’s success. “It’s crucial,” President Lori Gilliland stated at the board’s Jan. 24 meeting.
Clancy Elementary School has four wells in use. One provides water to the school building, while the others are for irrigation. Hydrologists contracted by the Water and Sewer Board have determined that the school’s water supply is sufficient to support the community water system. Additionally, initial tests indicate that the school’s water is safe to drink.
At the school board meeting, the Water and Sewer Board intends to propose that a new community well be drilled near one of the existing wells on school grounds. The water from that well would be pumped uphill to a holding tank and distributed from there by gravity flow to district customers.
Great West Engineering Project Manager Collette Anderson has prepared a page-and-a-half of talking points she hopes to present to the school board aimed at showing the importance of the school’s participation. At its previous meeting, on Jan. 10, the school board expressed skepticism about a new well.
Separately, Water and Sewer Board member Bob Johnson reminded the board that at some point, the system needs to be brought back to the voters. “Before we start installing pipes and pumps, we really need to go back to the community. We promised that,” said Johnson.
Anderson felt that the board already had the authority it needed to proceed with the project. But board members pointed out that the projected monthly cost per household for water services has risen since the project was first presented.
“Back when we had more attendance at these meetings,” Gilliland said, hinting that community participation has dwindled over the past few months, “we were telling everyone the cost per house would be about $60-80 per month. They need to know that the cost has probably gone up.”
The board currently estimates that water services will likely cost each house connected to the system slightly over $100 per month on a flat rate basis. That cost could rise even higher without the school water supply the board seeks. “The fact is, half the houses in the district just won’t be able to afford that,” said board member Bill Hammer.
While sympathetic, Anderson suggested the focus should be on the need to make a good presentation to the school board next month, and try to persuade the school to assist in the effort. “We just need to remind everyone that what they are paying for is good, clean water.”
